by Technophobes;the Kicking;Screaming Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers
1. Press Menu.
2. Press center to choose a song.
3. Press Play.
To turn the iPod off, hold down the Play button. To turn the iPod back on, press the center button. The iPod will remember if you were listening to a song and will allow you to resume where you left off. There is also a lock feature on the top of the iPod so you won’t accidentally turn it on when it’s in your pocket or purse.
The instructions that come with the iPod are very clear, but the Apple website is very helpful, too. It also seems that just about everyone has an iPod nowadays, so you have lots of resources for advice.
Book It, Danno
There are over 30 million e-readers in circulation in the United States alone, and that number is climbing. Apparently the electronic book is here to stay. The major players in the field of e-readers are Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Sony’s Reader, and Amazon’s Kindle (the last is currently leader of the pack and, for purposes of example, the one I’ll mostly focus on in this chapter), but there are many other worthy brands to consider. E-readers range in price from $79 to almost $400 and can weigh anywhere from 6 ounces to a pound. An e-reader is definitely one of those devices that you should try on for size before you commit to a purchase. Only you can tell you whether the e-reader is too heavy, the screen is too small, or the feeling is just right. Some questions to ponder: Which style of turning pages appeals to you? Does the keyboard suit your fingers? What else do you want to read besides books on the device? How heavy is too heavy? Where will you be reading? Some devices are better in sunlight than others.
THE EARS HAVE IT
You can either listen to your iPod with the earbuds (Apple’s name for the unique earphones that come with the iPod) provided or plug into one of the many speaker systems available. You can also purchase accessories that allow you to listen in your car or through a radio. Visit Apple’s website to see all the possibilities.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The first question to be answered is “What is an e-reader, really?” Essentially, it is a portable device that enables you to read digital versions of books and periodicals. You can download or move books, newspapers, and magazines onto the device using a wi-fi connection or a 3G connection. To clarify, a wi-fi connection is an Internet connection like the one you have in your home. A wi-fi connection is dependent upon being within range of a wi-fi signal. 3G or 4G are cellular network signals, as you use with your cell phone, offering service in more areas than wi-fi, but usually at an additional cost.
The same technology that allows you to send an e-mail attachment enables you to download a digital book. It flies through the air with the greatest of ease. For many people, an e-reader will never replace the pleasure of reading a physical book. Electric light will never completely replace candlelight, but that’s no reason not to turn on the lights. I use an e-reader only for travel. The benefits are twofold—I keep the weight of my suitcase to a minimum, and every morning The New York Times arrives on my reader, regardless of where I am on the globe. The Kindle is capable of storing up to 3,500 books. Both the Nook and Sony reader can store about half as many books as the Kindle, which still seems like plenty to me. Astonishing when you think about it!
• Barnes and Noble’s Nook.
When comparing e-readers, you really want to get your hands on each to see what suits you best. The features and screen quality are improving every day, so what your neighbor had last year may be very different from what is being sold this year. You don’t need to buy books to read on an e-reader. You may also download (or copy) them from your local library’s website. Go in and ask for a demonstration.
Watch the tutorials listed below to get a better sense of which e-reader might be best for you:
barnesandnoble.com/nook
esupport.sony.com
amazon.com/kindle
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“I love that as my eyes get tired from reading I can increase the size of the text on my e-reader, then decrease it later. You can’t do that with a book!”
—Felix
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How Do E-readers Work?
I’m using the Kindle as my example in the book because it currently leads the market in sales—I have no allegiance to any brand of e-reader. If you choose to purchase a different e-reader, the general setup will be similar to what I’m explaining here.
At the time of purchase or after receiving the Kindle as a gift (lucky you!), you’ll be required to register it at amazon.com/kindle. Doing so establishes a relationship with Amazon so you can purchase and download books to the Kindle. (You must purchase books for your Kindle exclusively from Amazon.) Amazon will store your credit card information for your convenience. As is true with just about all of the large online shopping sites, Amazon takes precautions to protect your credit card information, but if you are squeamish about having your credit card stored, you may want to consider a different e-reader.
When you visit Amazon’s site, be sure to watch the Kindle Video. When you’re done with the video, click on Kindle Store. Then click on Manage Your Kindle in the table of contents at the top of the page. This is where you can register and learn all about your new toy. For those of you who don’t have a Kindle but are curious, go visit amazon.com/kindle and click on the Kindle Video. It’s a very good overview of the device.
Once you’ve registered with Amazon, visit the Kindle Store. Nearly 1,000,000 books are available for the Kindle—including “Is This Thing On?”! You’ll find that not only can you buy books for the Kindle, but certain magazines and newspapers are available as well. The miraculous part is that less than a minute after you buy the book or periodical of your choice, it wirelessly arrives on the Kindle. Poof! If you download the Kindle app to your computer or smartphone, you can also access your library there. Pretty incredible, isn’t it?
• You can choose nearly a million books to download to your Kindle.
Now let’s look at how to operate the Kindle. Running along the left and right sides of the Kindle are a series of controls. Both the right and left sides let you move from page to page. Simply depress and release Next Page or Prev Page. The right side has some additional controls.
Press Home to view your library stored on the Kindle.
Menu offers you different features, such as Shop in Kindle Store or Text-to-Speech, a feature wherein the Kindle reads the text aloud to you. An e-reader can be turned on and off without losing your place in your reading.
The 5 Way Controller functions much like your mouse. You move it up, down, left, or right to navigate what’s on the screen. Push straight down on it like a button to activate a choice—sort of like a click of the mouse.
There are two features on the keypad worth noting. The AA key allows you to adjust the text to six different sizes. I often enlarge the text so I can read it without having to find my reading glasses! Sym accesses symbols when typing with the keypad.
Do you have it in you to learn about one more gadget? Take a break and come back for the grand finale.
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“Every time I pick up my iPad, I discover another great feature. There’s no better way to display my photos. I love being able to zoom in on an image with a pinch of my fingers.”
—Claude
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I’m Talkin’ iPad
I’ve saved the best for last. Imagine, if you will, just about all the elements mentioned in this book—websites, e-mail attachments, the Internet, shopping online, digital photos, video calling, social networking, watching a movie or TV, playing games, listening to music, and reading a book… all rolled up in one appealing and extremely portable device that measures 9.5” by just under 7.5” and weighs less than a pound and a half. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Apple’s iPad!
To be fair, there is an entire industry of tablets out there worthy of your attention. BlackBerry has its Playbook tablet, and the Kindle and Nook are evolving more into tablets with each generation. Asus, Samsung, and Lenovo also offer t
ablets with very good reviews at competitive prices, but the iPad was the pioneer and remains the dominant player in the field. Not to mention, I own an iPad and am in love with it.
The iPad functions like a big iPhone (except for the calling part). There are over 90,000 apps specific to the iPad, and many iPhone apps work on it in modified versions. You are sure to find a few dozen programs out of 90,000-plus that will truly amaze and entertain you. Of course you can use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even video Skype on the iPad. Just like some smartphones, the iPad can be held horizontally or vertically, depending on the mood you’re in for viewing. The screen size makes watching a movie or TV show or reading a book or magazine (all of which can be purchased from iTunes) a pleasure—the glass screen means that images come alive with clarity. Because I use my iPad for heavy duty e-mailing and writing, I set it into an external keyboard rather than having to type on the touch screen. (My bad typing needs all the help it can get!) You really have to see and touch it to believe all that the iPad is capable of.
• The iPad comes with 20 built-in apps and you can download thousands more.
• Watch Apple’s iPad videos to get the scoop.
By the way, you have a choice when buying an iPad, as to whether you want only the wi-fi feature or, for a monthly data usage fee, you want 3G or 4G to stay connected to the Internet 24/7. Every weekend I travel by train from New York City to Connecticut. There is no wi-fi on the train, so I opted to pay the monthly fee to stay connected during my weekend commute.
I could just go on and on describing my enjoyment of the iPad, but rather than my talking about it, and until you get one in your hands, the best thing you could do is visit apple.com/ipad/guided-tours to see it all firsthand. Be sure to click Play All Guided Tours.
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“I didn’t think of myself as a gadget person but I’ve fallen in love with my iPad. It’s gorgeous and so easy to use.”
—Carolyn
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Until We Meet Again
Before we move on to the troubleshooting chapter, I just want to let you know what a pleasure it’s been to go on this journey of discovery with you. If you can believe it, there was a time when you didn’t know what a computer could do, let alone understand the basics of a BlackBerry or know what the heck Twitter is! You’ve come long way, baby! But remember, you have no obligation to try or adopt anything you don’t want to, especially if it isn’t ultimately helpful to you.
Please do take the time to visit and revisit me at my website (abbyandme.com), and I’ll keep you up-to-date while you keep in touch.
Bon voyage!
Q: What is Bluetooth and how do I use it with my phone?
A: Have you seen people with those Star Trek–like devices in their ears? Bluetooth technology allows your phone to send and receive signals to both your computer and your earpiece without wires. There is no wire going from the earpiece to the phone, but a signal is sent so the caller can use the phone through that earpiece. The wireless technology is called Bluetooth.
• A wireless cell phone earpiece.
Q: What is an SMS message?
A: SMS stands for short message service—and an SMS message is also known as a text. An SMS message can be up to 160 characters and is sent to a cell phone or computer.
Q: Is it possible that I will run out of space on my computer because of the songs in iTunes or my photographs?
A: Music, video, and photos take up much more space on a computer than documents, so it is possible to run out of space on your computer if you have a large library of songs or many albums of photos. Rather than buying a new computer, you can buy an additional hard drive to store these things. Remember, the hard drive is a storage facility. The new added hard drive will plug into your computer and you can direct your songs and photos to it.
Q: What is the difference between an e-reader and a tablet?
A: An e-reader’s primary purpose is for you to read electronic books. However, many e-readers offer e-mail and web access, among other features. A tablet is capable of almost all of the functions of a full-size computer. Prices reflect the different capabilities of each device.
CHAPTER 25
Troubleshooting
“I think it has a fever”—what to do if something doesn’t seem right
Error messages that appear on a computer screen can cause the bravest souls to quake in their boots. These messages are generally as harmless as a spooky movie, but they can be just as frightening.
It’s a good idea to keep a diary of any problems you have with your computer. Make a note of the date, time, and what happened. If an error message shows up, write it down exactly as it appears. In the unlikely case that you bought a lemon, it will also be helpful information when you return the computer.
This chapter will go over some of the problems that you might come across with your computer. I want you to be aware of them and show you that they can be solved. Be assured that most of these problems will not happen. There is even the possibility that none of them will ever happen (although the chances of that are about the same as you winning the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes).
I don’t expect you to understand the logic behind the solutions; just read along to get a feel for how to troubleshoot problems. Consider this chapter your first-aid kit for your computer experience.
Take Advantage of Technical Support Services!
Technical support is yours for the taking, based on your warranty agreement. There is no question too big or too small to be asked. Read through the scenarios in this chapter, but know that you can always call for technical assistance instead of trying to troubleshoot on your own. You paid for the service—take advantage of it!
When I turned on the computer, the screen remained black.
Most monitors have a small light that indicates if the monitor is on. If this light is not lit, it means the monitor is not getting electricity.
• Is the monitor turned on?
• Is the computer plugged in?
• Is the monitor plugged into the computer?
• Is the computer plugged into a working outlet?
• If it’s plugged into a surge protector, is the surge protector plugged in and turned on?
• There is a dial to increase or decrease the brightness of the screen somewhere on the monitor. Perhaps that is turned to the darkest choice. Find that dial and see if you can adjust the screen.
These solutions may seem too obvious to solve the problem, but that is often the case with computers. Because computers seem so complex, the simple solutions are sometimes overlooked. If only I had a dollar for every time a client called in distress and the culprit was a part of the computer that had been unplugged by accident.
CHECK YOUR BATTERY
If your wireless keyboard or mouse stops functioning, it could be as simple as replacing the battery.
My keyboard or mouse doesn’t work.
Again, chances are something isn’t plugged in correctly. Trace the path of each cord. Unplug the cord from its port and then replug it into the port. Sometimes even I find myself wondering why a document won’t print, and then I remember I unplugged the printer the last time I took my laptop on the road. Oops.
If it’s still not working, try restarting your computer.
While trying to visit a website, my screen says “Server Not Responding.”
The first thing to do is try to visit another website. That determines if the original website you were trying to access is acting up or there’s a different problem. I usually try cnn.com as my test site, because it’s lush, and if it opens up, that means that you, your computer, and your Internet connection have no problems, but the website you were trying to visit was having a hiccup. Give the site some time to get its act together and try again later.
If you have no success opening cnn.com, close the window and try connecting to the Internet with a different browser. If you have a PC, you will have Internet Explorer (the blue E) already on
your desktop. If you have a Mac, you’ll have Safari (the compass). They are both browsers, allowing you to “browse” the Internet. If you haven’t already, download Mozilla Firefox (firefox.com). It’s a browser that works well on both Macs and PCs. If Internet Explorer or Safari don’t open, try to open Firefox. If Firefox opens, try to access the desired website. If you succeed, the problem was with your other browser.
If you’re still not able to connect, the problem could be your modem. The best thing to do at this stage is turn off the computer. Turn off your modem, and unplug all of the plugs in the back of the modem. (Take note of where each one is plugged before removing it. If you haven’t already, you can mark each cord by labeling it with masking tape to ensure there will be no mistaking what it plugs into.) Let it all sit for a full minute, then plug the cords in again and turn the modem on. Wait another full minute for the modem to reset itself. Now turn on your computer and try to connect to the Internet again.
It’s a good idea to make a note of the lights on the modem when it is working well. That way, if you can’t connect to the Internet, you may be able to identify the problem quickly with just a glance at the lights. (“Eureka! What should be green is yellow or not lit at all.”) If restarting the modem doesn’t work, call the company that provides your Internet service, and see if they can troubleshoot things from their end.
My mouse, keyboard, or screen is frozen.
This remains one of the great mysteries of the computer. Sometimes it just freezes up on you. It’s a bit like when a part of my brain can’t come up with the name of a person I’ve known for years. Something stops working momentarily. The computer might fix itself in a few minutes, but if it doesn’t, you can bring it back to life.
